Luke Evans MP: written questions
457 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Transport: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of funding the National-Level Transport Scheme allocates to the (a) investigation and (b) completion of business cases; and to the immediate construction of schemes that are ready t
Answer: The department does not recognise the ‘National-Level Transport Scheme.’ and is therefore unable to provide an answer to this question.
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64115More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to replace the business rates system from 2026-27; and whether she plans to hold a consultation to inform the new system.
Answer: Over the course of this Parliament, the Government will create a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. The Government published a Discussion Paper at Autumn Budget 2024 setting ou...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64114More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on the (a) fiscal position and (b) sustainability of independent SMEs.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on indi...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall BusinessesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with independent SMEs on the impact of his Department's policies.
Answer: The UK has 5.5m SMEs and we are committed to hardwiring their voice into government policy, engaging with them in various ways including through roundtables, visits and events.Hundreds of individual SMEs have been engaged across all sectors and regions as...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: Capital InvestmentDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has completed the capital review of transport projects.
Answer: The Capital Review was undertaken by an external panel of independent experts, and has now concluded.
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: PublicityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64105More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to launch a campaign to increase pension credit uptake before winter 2025-2026.
Answer: The Government wants all pensioners to get the support to which they are entitled. That is why since Autumn 2024 we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign. The Department’s campaign to raise awareness of Pension Credit has cont...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordResponsible Dog Ownership Working GroupDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64102More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61897 on Responsible Dog Ownership Working Group, who the members of the taskforce are; which members are leading on each of the four
Answer: The Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce is convened by Defra officials, and the membership is made up of representatives from animal welfare organisations, local authorities, the police and Welsh government. Each of these groups is represented on the four...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Solar PowerDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64101More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of good quality agricultural land being used for the development of large scale solar farms.
Answer: Defra produces statistical estimates of agricultural land areas each year from the annual June Survey of Agriculture: In 2024, the utilised agricultural area (UAA) in England was 8.7 million hectares and this has remained broadly stable, only changing by ...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Vocational GuidanceDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64100More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of school career services in (a) highlighting and (b) encouraging apprenticeships.
Answer: The department has introduced a ladder of support and intervention, as set out in our careers statutory guidance, to support compliance with the provider access legislation which requires schools to offer pupils encounters with providers of technical educ...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64099More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to highlight the importance of safety at railway level crossings during the school summer holidays.
Answer: Educating users is critical to ensuring that level crossings are used safely and we look to Network Rail as the owner of these assets to do this. Network Rail produces a wide range of educational material on safety on and around the railway, including on ...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic TransportDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64097More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that local leaders work across county borders to ensure the (a) development and (b) sustainability of cross-border public transport services.
Answer: With regard to bus services, Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) already work closely together when tendering routes that cross shared boundaries, and in delivering their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP). There are also requirements set out in the Tran...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64096More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of demand responsive travel in rural areas in (a) the UK and (b) Leicestershire.
Answer: The government believes demand responsive transport (DRT) has an important role to play in ensuring communities can access transport services in areas where more traditional, regular stopping services may not be viable. The Department has funded 17 innova...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: LeicestershireDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to provide funding for public transport in Leicestershire.
Answer: This Government is committed to supporting public transport across the country. That is why we have confirmed £955 million for 2025/26 to support and improve bus services in England outside London. On our trains, the planned Great British Railways will ha...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 59764 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what estimate he has made of the cost of payments to Mauritius for the (a) FCDO and (
Answer: The payments to Mauritius will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. They will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of AI companion software on (a) children's mental health, (b) children's social skills and (c) trends in the level of children's loneliness.
Answer: The department is working to build evidence of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for education, both on the opportunities and the risks. We are supporting the sector to use AI safely.We are funding the development of global guidelines for t...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans: LGBT+ peopleMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will facilitate increased sittings of the Independent Panel to assess payments for LGBTQ+ veterans.
Answer: As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments totalling £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns. We are now processing applications based on date received. The first payments were issued within 15 weeks of th...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood Plans: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to fund support services for local neighbourhood plan development.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59114 on 19 June 2025.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61901More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans her Department has to ensure that neighbourhood plans continue to (a) determine and (b) deliver local housing needs.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59114 on 19 June 2025.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEating Disorders: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that updates made to NHS England guidance help inform the NHS 10 Year Health Plan; and which stakeholders in the eating disorders sector have provided views in his
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan was developed jointly between the Department and NHS England. All relevant NHS England guidance has been considered as part of the development of the plan.We received 1,650 submissions to the 10-Year Health Plan from partner organi...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEating Disorders: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61899More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department expects NHS England to publish updated guidance on children's and young people's eating disorders; and which third party bodies were consulted on updates to that guidance.
Answer: NHS England is in the process of refreshing its guidance on children and young people's eating disorders, which includes increasing the focus on early identification and intervention across the care pathway, including in settings such as schools and prima...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for the Midlands Rail Hub project; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the Hub supports rail travellers from (a) Leicestershire and (b) Hinckley and Bosworth consistency.
Answer: The Chancellor’s commitment to progress Midlands Rail Hub in the 2025 Spending Review follows the release of £123 million last year to design the first phase (with additional services in central Birmingham, to the South West and South Wales, and improved ...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordResponsible Dog Ownership Working GroupDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57375 on Responsible Dog Ownership Working Group, on which dates the Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce has met since July 2024; wha
Answer: The Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce was reconvened in May 2025. The taskforce is considering four themes: education, training for both dogs and their owners, enforcement, and improving data on dog attacks. We look forward to receiving the findings and...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation and TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61893More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the challenges faced by young carers in balancing their caring responsibilities with (a) education and (b) training.
Answer: Young carers have been a hidden cohort for too long. They provide essential care and support to their loved ones, often stepping up in challenging situations at the expense of their own development and wellbeing.The department is using school census data ...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPupils: AttendanceDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that guidance and resources for School Attendance Support Teams includes young carers.
Answer: The department wants to ensure that young carers have the best life chances by supporting them in their education. We recognise that absence from school is almost always a symptom of wider needs and barriers that a family are facing and is often also the ...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation: TeachersDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of teacher's awareness of young people's caring responsibilities.
Answer: Young carers have been a hidden cohort for too long. They provide essential care and support to their loved ones, often stepping up in challenging situations at the expense of their own development and wellbeing.The department is using school census data ...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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